curb-appeal-ideas-the-gatehouse

I made a monogram welcome mat the other day….

…..and I cried.

I couldn’t help it.

I was printing and taping and cutting out letters….

…..and watching the first episode of the new season of Duck Dynasty.

Please tell me you watched it.

Romeo and Juliet have nothing on Phil and Miss Kay.

Seriously.

painted-welcome-mat

I cried when she walked up and held his hand.

I cried when she looked at him with a pert little smile and told him she would love him forever.

And as….he stood there…so tall and bearded and stoic….and told her he loved her right back….I cried and cried and cried.

Tears rolled down my face as I watched.

There wasn’t a 24 piece marching band or yards of tulle or a red carpet or doves flying into the air….or all the things that romantic weddings are made of.

Just  a river bank and family and friends and two dogs walking the bride down the aisle.

Just two ordinary, simple, every day people who have cooked and made duck calls and lived and loved each other for half a century.

Just a couple standing strong and firm in that love and the promise of tomorrow.

Just love.

Monogram-welcome-mat

Monogram Welcome Mat

Supplies:

Ikea Mat for $1.97

Painter’s Tape

Black Spray Paint

how-to-monogram-welcome-mat

Step 1:  Print out letters on computer

I printed out the letters in Baskerville Old Style.

The W was printed out at 650 and the D and the K were printed out at 450.

monogram-welcome-mat-projectStep 2:  Cut out letters

Sit down in front of the first episode of the new season of Duck Dynasty.

Cut out the letters leaving an outline.

Laugh when Si drinks from his tea cup at the wedding.

monogram-mat-projectStep 3:  Tape off border

Put one row of tape around the edge.

Put another row of tape about an inch or two inside.

Start crying when Miss Kay gets out of the car and starts to walk down the aisle with her two dogs and the ukele strums and the only unbearded son who is the preacher starts talking about their lives together.

Try to guesstimate the correct tape spacing through the tears.

monogram-welcome-mat-diyStep 3: Center the outline of the letters in the middle and tape

Place the letters in the center of the mat and completely tape off with painter’s tape so that only the parts that should be spray painted remain.

It took me a while.

I kept stopping to watch the romance unfold.

painted-welcome-mat

Step 4:  Spray paint the mat

Tip number one:  wait until your tears are dry you can see clearly.

Tip number two:  do not spray paint at an angle…spray paint directly so that it doesn’t spray under the outline of the letters.

Tip number three:  don’t over spray in one area.

 

Step 5:  Peel off tape and let dry

 

And as I wiped my tears away and Jace tried to go fishing in the middle of the wedding….and I took the my new monogram welcome mat over to the back porch of the gatehouse….two thoughts kept turning over and over in my mind….

….I am in love with love….

…..and I totally think my husband would look really cute with a beard. 🙂

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Comments

  1. Image for Whitney Whitney

    I cried too but just assumed it was because of the pregnancy hormones! It was such a sweet episode...I died laughing when Phil told Si that he had never stood in front of the "Crack House"...one of my most favorite DD yet! I love this mat...maybe I'll try to recreate it this weekend! Thanks so much for sharing :)

  2. Image for Judy Judy

    that episode and your mat make me happy, happy, happy! we love duck dynasty around here. last february on our aborted trip to vicksburg we headed over to west monroe and duck commander...even parked next to si's truck! we didn't see any of "the beards" but are planning on going back and taking granddaughter taylor who is a huge DD fan. great job on the mat...i need to make a new one for our porch.

  3. Image for Brandy @ The Prudent Homemaker Brandy @ The Prudent Homemaker

    I blinked about 15 times rapidly when I saw the price that you paid for that mat. WOW! Can we get an Ikea here, please? The closest one is 240 miles away. In another state.

  4. Image for Teri Teri

    Love Duck Dynasty. And I loved when Ms. Kay said "I loved you when you were young and weren't so nice and I love you now". You hit the nail on the head, it's not about the romantic stuff it's about two people and what they built together. Such a great show.

  5. Image for Donnamae Donnamae

    You've already got me watching the Hallmark channel...I don't think I'm up for Duck Dynasty! Have a great weekend! ;)

  6. Image for June G. June G.

    I cried too! Those were the sweetest, most sincere vows ever spoken! I LOVE DD! I keep all the episodes and watch them over and over! DD proves its the little things and loving each other that are the most important things in life. So, I'll get all the supplies I need to make your lovely mat and watch 'Till Duck to us part" again! Thanks KariAnne this made my day!! Have a wonderful weekend! June G.

  7. Image for sonny sonny

    I need the Mat~! thanks so much for the detailed instructions.. I dvr'd the DD wedding and I've cried all 5 times I've watched it.. love those folks..

  8. Image for Fran C Fran C

    I taped the show and have watched it a couple of times. Another one of my favorite parts was when Phil told Miss Kay she was his best buddy! Just LOVE that show!!

  9. Image for Michelle Michelle

    I Love the mat and I love Duck Dynasty! I cried a little when Ms Kay said "I loved you when you were young and not so nice and I love you now". OK maybe more than a little. My youngest said "mom are you really crying" Boys they just don't get it. I'm going to a wedding in October and this mat will be a perfect addition to the gift. Have a great weekend!

  10. Image for andrea cammarata andrea cammarata

    This welcome mat is fabulous!!! LOVE IT! You have the magic touch! It is so customized and on the flip side...inexpensive...now that is the perfect blend! I love that you love your show so very much : ) but as you most probably have guessed...not one that I watch : ) hugs and love!

  11. Image for Renae Renae

    I so cried. It was so great!! I'm so happy I'm not the only one because my kids thought I was silly. But I tell you what, I'm pretty sure my husband had a little twinkle of tear in his eye too. What a sweet, loving couple with a great family. They are lucky to have each other and we are lucky to have them. :) To make us cry and to teach us that yes, it's good to pray as a family and to disagree with each other but to love each other anyway. Fun stuff. Thanks for this!

  12. Image for Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door

    Karianne, I cried too! It was just so sweet! Can't figure out why I like that show so much but I love that family, all they stand for and represent. Thanks so much for telling us you cried! Makes me feel so much better. LOL! And I love the welcome mat. I'm always up for another monogram. :)

  13. Image for Gwen Gwen

    I can't relate. I only watch Mad Men and Walking Dead. Degenerates and Zombies are all I care about. Give me a good bloody face that half falling off, and I'm there.

  14. Image for Regina Regina

    I loved how the girls took over the wedding plan - and dragged their men right along with them! :) Yep, they're all "whupped," and I think they like it that way! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the mat. And I'm GOING to get to another IKEA. I've only been to one in my lifetime, in Cincinnati, and it was almost a spiritual experience - almost like that first glimpse of Main Street, USA in Disney World, but not quite. ;) I wonder if you could do the same with stenciling?

  15. Image for Tammy Soave Tammy Soave

    "You're my best buddy." could sweeter words EVER be heard from someone you love? I think not. Yes I cried too. Who would thunk at the inception of this show that we would come to love this family so! Anywho, you must have received my vibes telepathically..I've been looking for a new door mat to go with our freshly painted home. When I found nothing I liked I remembered seeing these DIY monogrammed doormats but did not know where the plain door mat could be found. I should have known my beloved Ikea had them. And for so little moola! Thanks for this post! I'm off to Ikea now! See ya!

  16. Image for Michele/Finch Rest Michele/Finch Rest

    I don't watch tv so just learned about this show. So many peeps are talking about it. Maybe I will see it one day, but probably now knowing my aversion to tv. I DO watch our flat screen - but it is dvds or YouTube or Netflix......... By the way your monogram mat is AWESOME, as are most of your great clever crafty ideas, KA!! Our monogram is mMm - mmm, can you imagine? So would make a weird statement on a doormat, as in come on in the food is good, or worse: "Come on in, we're cannibals and will eat your deliciousness for dinner." I gotta pass on this but what a GREAT thrifty hostess gift for shower gift, huh? Have a super wonderful fabulous tear-free weekend, you sweet sensitive lady. ~Michele

  17. Image for GinaE GinaE

    Love, love, love your new mat. I need to do something like that for our porch. But, honestly, the Duck Dynasty men make me ill. I don't understand why anyone likes that show.

  18. Image for Shauna Shauna

    I didn't cry...but my HUSBAND (who's entire family is Monroe Louisiana born and bred) did!! And now we have an idea for a Halloween costume.... (shh, don't tell.)

  19. Image for Norma Jean Norma Jean

    I have never watched Duck Dynasty, but I think I may have to take a peek at it. Silly me, I thought it was about a group of men duck hunting. Loved the doormat!

  20. Image for Colleen P Colleen P

    I had to scroll really fast through this post because I have it recorded and haven't watched it yet! Love the mat! We were at the fair the other night watching a concert (Foreigner)...long live the 80's...anyway, two rows in front of us was a man who looked like Uncle Si...seriously. He stood up and put on a "manny-belt" (guy speak for fanny pack) and it has two small canteens on either side...I really really wanted to ask him if he had tea in there!! We all kind of looked at each other and giggled. Have an amazing weekend KariAnne!

  21. Image for Denise Denise

    I just started watching DD this summer. I think I have watched the season premier at least 3 times. Their vows are the best. It is so refreshing to see a family that loves one another and prays together. Thanks for the door-mat tutorial. What a great idea!

  22. Image for Debra Debra

    I love you mat! You did a great job. But the verdict is out on Duck Dynasty. I have watched several episodes and tried my hardest to like it. But many have told to hang in there so that is what i must do. Just hate being out of the Duck Dynasty loop!!

  23. Image for Miss Flibbertigibbet Miss Flibbertigibbet

    Gosh...I am SO out of the loop.......Love the mat....never watch Duck Dynasty. My pastor looks like those guys (with a more neatly trimmed beard) so I see him every week......am I in beard overload? Resistant to societal pressure? In denial? Do I need a 12 step program?

  24. Image for Babette Babette

    I cried too...so hard. I just love them and their family! Duck Dynasty is a must see around here. I knew that I liked your blog and your design, but now that I know you like Duck Dynasty? well that is just the bees' knees! Love the mat and have to get to IKEA again. Our closest is an hour away, BUT they are now building one in Miami, FL and I will only be 20 minutes away!! Yeah!!!!

  25. Image for Pamela of Flower Patch Farmhouse Pamela of Flower Patch Farmhouse

    My friends keep telling me I need to start watching Duck Dynasty as I always have my tea with me wherever I go. I assume there is someone on the show that does too. :) Love the mat, I wonder how long that paint lasts when it is used...hmmm, we will have to try it and find out.

  26. Image for Kim Osburn Kim Osburn

    I got my Cowboy to turn the T.V. from Cops to Duck Dynasty just in time for the wedding. I cried and cried too. It was so precious. I hate that I missed all the planning and such that went on ahead of time, but I guess that's why they have reruns. Love the welcome mat and I'm trying to decide whether to make one now or to wait until my Cowboy and I make it official. Thanks for sharing

  27. Image for Emily Emily

    First of all, super tutorial. Pinned, can't wait to try it, but I'm a little nervous about spray paint. I have a probably with getting an even coat, and not making a mess. Second of all, I totally agree with you about those two! They make me look forward to having grandchildren and sitting at home with my sweetie. I hope that we can love that way after 40+ years. I love how he always grumbles to the camera about her Miss Kay ways and then dotes on her and adores her despite them. They are a good role model of a couple for reality TV!

  28. Image for Angie @ Angie's Roost Angie @ Angie's Roost

    I totally cried too...like UGLY cried! I love Phil and Miss Kay! I adore the quote I saw roaming around Facebook or Pinterest or social media in general that "the world needs more Phil and Kay and less Kim and Kanye". They're so adorable and in love and it shows! Now I'm crying again! Love the monogram mat!!!

  29. Image for Kathy Kathy

    Love this post…..keep them coming! Love the mat AND your decorating style. You inspire me! Many blessings to you on this fine day….

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